The terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut yesterday, Nov. 19, with 23 dead and a larger number of wounded brings to the forefront the urgent need to expedite the Geneva II conference. The conference should not wait until mid-December to address the Syrian civil war and its regional impact on Syria’s neighbors. Equally important is to expedite the formation of Lebanon's cabinet so it can resume authority and defuse the emerging crisis in Lebanon.

For seven months, Lebanon's prime minister-designate has not been able to form a cabinet, making the country all the more vulnerable and allowing the sectarian divide to persist, endangering the stability of Lebanon.

The continuous flow of refugees from Syria to Lebanon places a heavy burden on reconciliation requirements, as well as economic and social conditions.

Lebanon is and has always been a welcoming country for refugees — accommodating their needs and respecting rights — but the scale of the refugee population, such as in the Bekaa town of Arsal, has heightened security concerns and caused a serious management crisis.